Drum cleaning machine



May 25,1943. QGENASCI v DRUM 'C LEANING MACHINE 3 Filed Jun' 17', 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 :71 INVENTORY t; BY

' c. GENASCI DRUM CLEANING MACHINE May 25, 1943.

Filed June 17, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 m Q M s m w u F un INVENTOR (Vere/7C2 62/7 osc/ Patented May 25, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFHCE DRUM CLEANING MACHINE Clarence Gcnasci, Menlo Park, Calif.

Application June 1'2, 1941, Serial No. 398,424

7 Claims.

My invention relates to means for use especial. ly in cleaning out so-called putty drums which are utilized to deliver plaster to a building job. These drums are usually open at one end and are constructed of sheet metal and originally are generally circular-cylindrical with a head in one end and reinforcing grooves or bands about their periphery. After having been used they are customarily returned for refilling, but some of the plaster hardens within them, or is left within them and remains despite careful hand cleaning, to contaminate a future filling. Further, as the drums are utilized and become older they lose their circular-cylindrical shape, partially at least, and are dented and creased so that the interior periphery become grossly irregular, making it very difficult to effectuate a satisfactory cleaning operation.

It is an object of my invention, therefore, to provide a drum cleaning machine effective to remove residual plaster-like material from the interior of circular-cylindrical drums.

Another object of my invention is to provide a drum cleaning machine which is effective not only upon new drums, but is equally effective upon old drums of irregular shape.

Another object of my invention is to provide a drum cleaning machine in which not only the effects of scouring or abrading can be utilized, but also, simultaneously therewith rinsing by water or comparable liquid.

An additional object of my invention is to provide a drum cleaning machine which can readily be applied to drums in any suitable location.

A further object of my invention is to provide a drum cleaning machine in which the operating mechanism is well protected against materials discharged and removed from the drums being cleaned.

The foregoing and other objects are attained in the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a plan of a drum cleaning machine constructed in accordance with my invention, a drum being shown in cleaning position thereupon, but in cross-section on a horizontal longitudinal plane.

Fig. 2 is an end view of a portion of my drum cleaning machine, the end of the drum being cleaned being broken away to disclose the 'interior construction.

Fig. 3 is a cross-section, the plane of which is indicated by the line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a cross-section, the plane of which is indicated by the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a detailed side elevation of a latching means for the drum holder.

In its preferred form the drum cleaning machine of my invention includes a suitable base on which is rotatably journalled a rotor designed to fit easily within the confines of a drum to be cleaned. On the rotor are scouring means such as a plurality of link chain groups, each roup of links being fastened at one end only to the rotor. A source of power on the frame rotates the rotor so that the chains which ordinarily hang by gravity to facilitate the positioning of a drum thereover, are then flung outwardly by centrifugal force and rub and abrade the interior of the drum, thereby cleaning it of all deleterious material. Preferably, the shaft and rotor have a hollow interior through which a cleaning fluid such as water can be introduced well into the drum during the cleaning operation.

While the drum cleaning machine of my invention is susceptible to various modifications within the scope of the appended claims and can be changed in dimensions to suit various types and shapes of drum to be cleaned. it is particularly useful in connection with a standard size of putty or plaster drum, generally designated 6, which originally i a substantially circularcylindrical body having a side wall I secured to a metallic disc-like base 8 and which normally have at least a pair of flutes or grooves 9 included in the side wall material for stiffness. After considerable use, however, the wall I depart from their exact circular-cylindricality and are irregular in shape shown purposely exaggerated in the cross-section in Fig. 1. Obviously, the irregularities in shape vary from drum to drum and the particular one illustrated is intended merely to show the general type of structure encountered and to illustrate the problem of removing plaster from the irregularities which are generally present.

The machine itself is preferably though not necessarily of welded steel construction and includes a frame or base l3 conveniently constituted 'of suitable structural shapes such as channels and angles, and includes an extended platform I4 on which an electric motor 16, or other suitable source of power, is adjustable mounted. Preferably, an electric motor of the variable speed and reversible type is utilized, but any suitable driving element gives satisfactory results. The motor has its drive shaft ll provided with a driving pulley l8 around which a belt 19 is trained to transmit driving force from the motor to a pulley 'ZI around which the belt is also trained.

The pulley 2| is secured on a shaft 22 rotatably journalled in bearings 23 and 24 respectively, preferably of the self-aligning type and secured to members of the general frame I 3. Thus, when the motor 16 is energized the shaft 22 is appropriately rotated.

The shaft extends from the journals 23 and 24 and to one of the extensions is secured a rotor 26; This rotor is preferably itself a metallic cylindrical body coaxial with the shaft 22 and extending for a length substantially the same as the length of the drums to be cleaned, and of a diameter which is sufliciently less than the diameter of the drums to be cleaned as to afford a substantial clearance therebetween. The radial spiders 21 which are secured to the rotor 26 and to the shaft 22 afford rotation thereof in unison.

In accordance with my invention I provide scouring means on the outer periphery of the rotor 26 and while various different forms can be provided, I prefer to provide on such surface in a spiral arrangement a plurality of straps 28. Each of the straps extends for approximately a quarter of the circumference of the rotor, in the event 4 straps are utilized, and each of them is removably secured by fastenings such as bolts 29. If it is desired not to utilize the straps, they can be dispensed with and groups of chain links 3| can be directly secured to the rotor. Preferably, however, the chain links 3| are secured to the removable straps, so that when ultimately the chain links are worn or need to be replaced, they can be replaced as a unit.

Each of the straps 23 is provided with a number of groups'of chain links 3| axially spaced throughout substantially the entire length of the rotor. The number of links in each group is preferably such as to hang freely from its mounting when the rotor is stationary, but to fly out due to the influence of centrifugal force when the rotor is revolved into substantial contact with the interior of a drum to be cleaned. In addition to the chain links on the sides of the rotor, I provide a plurality of radially disposed links 32 extending across the outer end of the rotor and secured preferably to the spider 21 which is disposed at that point in order to scrape the bottom of a drum to be cleaned. Preferably the end links 32 also are provided with link groups 3| so that the bottom corners of the drum are Well cleaned.

In order to support a drum in place, the frame 13 is provided with angle extensions 33 and 34 which face each other and form a suitable bed for the drum 6. The members 33 and 34 extend parallel to the axis of the shaft 22 and are spaced therefrom a suflicient distance so that a drum to be cleaned is substantially coaxial with the shaft. If different sized drums or drums varying very materially in size are to be cleaned, shims and blocks can be introduced into the angles 33 and 34 for that purpose.

In order to hold a drum in place on the supports 33 and 34, which sometimes may be necessary. in the event friction between the drum and support is not adequate to keep the drum fro-m rotating, I provide on the frame 13 a mounting 36 to which a spring strap 31 is connected by a hinge 38. The spring strap carries a tail 39 so that when it is in released position the tail will butt against the mounting 36. The strap 31 is arcuate in contour and overlies the top of the drum to be cleaned so that its free end 4| constitutes a handle and can be positioned beneath a latch 42 projecting from a lever 43 mounted by a pivot 44 on the frame l3. When a drum is in position the strap lever 31 is brought down over the top of the drum and is sprung to underlie the latch 42. When the operation has been completed and the drum is to be released, the handle 4| is depressed slightly, the latch lever 43 is swung out of the way and then the strap lever 31 is lifted until the tail 39 abuts the support 36.

In the operation of the device a drum to be cleaned is positioned on th supports 33 and 34 overlying the rotor 36 as nearly as may be. The handle 4| is then operated to place the lever 31 in position and the motor I6 is energized to revolve the chains 3| actively against the interior of the drum. These chains being flexible members and being articulated to the periphery of the rotor, swing out under centrifugal force and contact all portions of the interior of the drum, no matter how irregular the drum may be. In addition, the bottom of the drum is also well cleaned and scraped and various pockets and grooves such as the grooves 9 are entered by the ends of the chains and the adhering material is scraped or struck therefrom.

To keep the material which is dislodged from the interior of the drum from damaging the apparatus, since often'dust and small particles fly from the interior of the drum, I erect a shield wall 46 extending transversely of the frame l3 and parallel with the platform 14 in a vertical plane so that particles flying from the interior of the drum cannot pass the barrier wall 46 and do not adversely affect the belt E9, the motor IE or the operator.

While drums can be cleaned as described, it is often advisable to employ a liquid such as water along with the abrading action, since the dust is reduced and sometimes the material within the drums is still moist and can be partly washed out. For that reason I preferably make the shaft 22 hollow and extend it for substantially the length of the interior of the rotor 26. In the portion of the shaft which extends beyond thebearing 23 I provide a slip coupling 41 of a standard type so that a stationary nonrotatable hose connection 48 can be applied thereto for the supply of water through a hose 49. Thus, when the rotor is operating or even when it is stationary, water can be supplied through the hose 49 and emerges with force from the remote end of the shaft 22 ad- Jacent the bottom of the drum 6. This water acts not only as a flushing agent, but also to wash out some of the contents of the drum and allays dust and confines small particles.

With the use of the drum cleaning machine of my invention, putty or plaster drums can be readily relieved of adhering, unused material and can be placed in a clean condition ready for the reception of additional plaster, even though they may not be new and regular in shape, but may be old, battered and badly encrusted.

I claim:

1. A drum cleaning machine comprising a frame including a pair of parallel angles constituting a drum support, a rotor journalled at one end only on said frame with its axis parallel to said angle and adapted to be disposed within a drumupon said support, means for rotating said rotor, and loose chains secured to said rotor and adapted to strike said drum under the influence of centrifugal force when said rotor is rotated.

2. A drum cleaning machine comprising a frame, a pair of bearings on said frame, a shaft journalled in said bearings, a rotor secured to one end of said shaft, means on said frame for rotating said shaft, articulated scouring means on said rotor, drum supports on said frame beneath and parallel to said shaft, and means on said frame for clamping a drum on said supports.

3. A drum cleaning machine comprising a frame, a pair of bearings on said frame, a shaft journalled in said bearings, a pulley on said shaft, a motor on said frame, a belt connecting said motor and said pulley, a cylindrical rotor on one end of said shaft, and a plurality of articulated scouring means on the cylindrical surface and at the end of said rotor.

4. A drum cleaning machine comprising a rotor, a plurality of groups of chain links, a spiral strap, means for securing one end of each of said groups to said spiral strap, and means for securing said strap to the periphery of said rotor.

5. A drum cleaning machine comprising a frame, a hollow shaft, means for journalling said shaft on said frame, means for rotating said shaft, a rotor mounted upon said shaft, scouring means on said rotor, means for holding a drum around said rotor, and means for supplying liquid to said drum through said hollow shaft.

6. A drum cleaning machine comprising a frame including a pair of parallel angles adapted to support a cylindrical drum, a cylindrical rotor, means for supporting said cylindrical rotor on said frame with the axis of said rotor parallel with said angles by a bearing disposed at one end only of said rotor and effective to restrain axial movement of said rotor, means for rotating said rotor, scouring means on the periphery of said rotor, and means for holding said drum on said angles.

7. A drum cleaning machine comprising a frame, a pair of hearings on said frame, a shaft journalled in said bearings, a rotor secured to one end of said shaft, articulated scouring means on said rotor and drum supports on said frame beneath and parallel to said shaft to support a drum coaxially with said shaft.

CLARENCE GENASCI. 

